Liposarcoma Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Liposarcoma is a type of cancer that originates from fatty tissue. This disease can occur in any part of the body. However, the areas most commonly affected are areas of the body that contain a lot of fat, such as the stomach, arms and legs.
This cancer mostly attacks adults with an age range of 40-60 years. Liposarcoma is also included in the category of cancer which is quite rare compared to other types of cancer. However, when diagnosed, the sufferer usually has entered an advanced stage and treatment is difficult.
Overall, there are four types of liposarcoma, namely:
- Well-differentiated liposarcoma is the most common type of liposarcoma. Growth and change tend to be slow.
- Dedifferentiated liposarcoma
- Myxoid liposarcoma, this type of liposarcoma mostly affects people with an age range of 30–50 years.
- Pleomorphic liposarcoma, which is a rare type of liposarcoma. When observed under a microscope, the cells in a tumor have different sizes and shapes.
Symptom
Liposarcoma initially appears as a soft lump that enlarges progressively and may be accompanied by swelling and pain. This type of cancer generally affects the arms or legs and can cause weakness in the movements of the arms and legs.
Meanwhile, if it occurs in the stomach, liposarcoma can cause the stomach to get bigger, feel full, intermittent abdominal pain, and constipation. In addition, there is usually blood when defecating.
Reason
Until now, the exact cause of liposarcoma is unknown. However, there is speculation that this disease occurs as a result of a genetic mutation that causes fat cells to multiply uncontrollably.
Diagnosis
If there is a suspicion of liposarcoma, the doctor will recommend several tests. The first test is a radiological examination. Examinations carried out can be in the form of X-rays, CT scans, or MRI. This examination aims to determine the extent and depth of liposarcoma tumors.
Next, a biopsy will be performed, which is to take a small sample of tumor tissue to look at under a microscope. This examination aims to ensure that the lump the patient is experiencing is a liposarcoma or arises due to other causes.
Treatment
Liposarcoma treatment depends on the stage. But in general, the main treatment for liposarcoma is surgery. As much as possible, the doctor will remove all malignant tumor cell tissue.
However, if the tumor is too large or close to certain organs, then removal of the entire tissue is not possible. If this happens, radiation is usually required first to reduce the size of the tumor. In addition, in some cases, chemotherapy also needs to be done to reduce the size of the liposarcoma tumor.
Prevention
There is no specific thing that can prevent liposarcoma. But in general, by adopting a healthy lifestyle, a person’s risk of developing cancer can decrease.
Some things that need to be done are:
- Eat a balanced healthy diet with lots of vegetables and fruit
- Reducing fat consumption
- Do exercise regularly, about 3-5 times a week
- Avoid stress